Log Construction Flexible Seal Gasket

ABSTRACT

A wood log of any dimension having a relatively flat upper and lower surface for the construction of log walls and log buildings. The flat portion of the logs may also have tongue and grooves, dog ears, radiuses or similar machined into them. A custom cut groove running the desired length of the log. Custom groove is cut within the mating surface area/s of the log/s. A flexible seal gasket is inserted into the custom groove. Flexible seal gasket is compressed into position during assembly of the logs which insures seal. Seal is maintained between logs even after log movement, shrinking, expanding and settling over time. The purpose of the flexible seal gasket is to seal the mating log surfaces from the penetration of water, weather, air and or Insects while adding additional insulating value between the logs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a log intended for log construction. This log has a flexible seal inserted into a groove cut within the log. When logs are assembled the flexible seal is under compression to seal against the penetration of weather, air and insects before, during and after log movement for the life of the log structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The construction of homes and cabins made from logs has been around for quite some time. The larger volume of log homes being built in the recent years has prompted the log manufactures to use more modern and sophisticated machinery. This machinery has made available new methods and techniques of fabricating and constructing log buildings. This has led to higher quality log homes that are easier and faster to build. One of the problems that still exist in today's modern log buildings is the penetration of water, air and insects in between the logs. Most log builder's use caulking, insulation or sealers to cover this vulnerable area but these methods require maintenance over the entire life of the home. The quality of these sealing techniques is questionable. Other methods have been used to deflect the water with a machined overhang in the log but this does not cure the problem. Some methods are to notch the wood or add a tongue and groove where the logs mate up. There is also a company that creates a ridged seal built into the log during log construction. This method is expensive and labor intensive making it prohibitive for most competitive builders who have to compete against caulking or sealing the area. Another company that has created a solid log to solid log seal using a close tolerance matching bead and channel with an option of a thin fiberglass sheet between the logs. The concern here is what will happen to the logs before they are assembled and what will happen to the log seal after years of log settling, shrinking, expanding and moving? But all of the methods have shortcomings either in the cost and ease of assembling the logs, flexibility of the seal, proper function of the seal, life of seal and maintenance required over time. None of these methods offer the kind of sealing protection over time needed in today's log construction.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the forgoing in mind the object of this invention is to increase thermal insulation between the logs while providing a water, air and insect tight seal that will stay flexible so it can move and maintain the seal for the life of the log building without the need for any caulking or other kinds of maintenance.

Another object of this invention is to provide this mentioned seal and its properties in an economical manner so the builder using this method can compete with companies using other low cost methods. Reducing the time and labor it takes to build a log building using other methods.

It is another object of this invention to create a seal gasket with multiple sealing surfaces so the seal can maintain thermal insulation and keep out the penetration of water, air and insects over the life of the log building while the logs settle, shrink and move.

It is still another object of this invention to provide this seal gasket in a material that is nontoxic for the installers or workers while maintaining all the other objects.

Constructing a log building with this present invention can be done on almost any kind of log that has a relatively flat top and bottom. It does not matter if the flat areas have tongue and groove, notches or are just flat. To use our seal all that is required is to cut a custom groove down the length of the log during or after the manufacturing process where sealing out water, air and insects is desired. In most cases it would be down the entire length of the log. It is also recommended that the custom groove is close to the outside portion of the log so water, air and insect penetration is slight to none before being stopped by the seal. If the log does have tongue and groove along the flat portion of the log it is recommended that the custom groove is cut into the top of the tongue and its associated groove closest to the outside portion of the log. This method will further remove the seal from the elements aiding the seal in its objective. During the assembly of the log building a seal is laid into the custom groove of the first log. Then the next log is placed on top. The top log is then bolted or nailed into place. Any excess seal is trimmed from the end of the logs at this time. This process is basically repeated until the log wall or log building is complete.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a section view of showing one seal gasket mounted between the upper and lower logs and an additional seal gasket above.

FIG. 2 is a section view similar to FIG. 1 with the exception of the upper seal gasket is now in position for mounting the upper log.

FIGS. 4 thru 11 are section views of other embodiments of this invention.

THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIEMENTS The Embodiment of FIG. 1

Referring to FIG. 1 is a lower log 10A and an upper log 10B which are usually identical. It is typical for the outer side 11 of the logs 10A and 10B to be curved and for the inner side 12 to be flat. It is not unusual for the inner side 12 to also be curved. The top surface is interrupted by raised areas 14, one of the raised areas has a custom grove 13 cut into the center of it running the desired length or entire length of the log 10A. The bottom surface has areas 16 that are cut to match the top surface areas 14 in a way so logs 10A and 10B can be easily assembled. Within this bottom surface 16 is another custom cut grove 17. Once the upper 10B and lower logs 10A are assembled the areas 14 and 16 align the logs so that the seal gasket 15 is not damaged during assembly. Custom cut groves 13 and 17 are also cut in a way so that they keep the seal gasket 15 under a slight compression. This slight compression aids the seal in sealing even after the logs have settled, moved, shrunk and expanded over time.

The Embodiment of FIG. 2

In this embodiment seal gasket 15 is shown mounted into custom cut grove 13 before upper log 10C is installed.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 3 & 4

These figures show a cross section view of a typical log 10A and 10B being assembled in respect to seal gasket 15. The seal gasket is not damaged during assembly because of the design and tolerance of the top surface areas 14 and the bottom surface areas 16. The seal gasket is compressed approximately 20% in this design. The seal gasket 15 is recommended to be located at the highest point 14 of the contacting surface to avoid excess exposure to outside elements and to create maximum insulation qualities for log structure.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 5 & 6

These embodiments' shows a cross section of log 10A and 10B where both top and bottom surfaces have a radius where logs 10A and 10B contact during assembly. Seal gasket 15 is mounted at the highest point of the contacting surfaces 14. An optional location for the seal gasket can be located anywhere along 18 and 19. The seal gasket is compressed once the logs are assembled.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 7 & 8

These figures show a cross section of upper and lower logs 10A and 10B with only one raised area where logs contact. The seal gasket 15 is located close to the outside edge 11 so exposure to outside elements is limited to a small surface area.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 9 & 10

These embodiments show a cross section of upper and lower logs 10A and 10B with no raised areas where logs contact. The seal gasket 15 is located as close as possible to the outside edge 11 so exposure to the outside elements is limited to a minimum. The contacting surface is not always flat and can have a radius. The seal gasket 15 is always mounted between the contacting surfaces 14 and 16, closest to the outside edge 11 or where location of seal gasket 15 will minimize damage from outside elements and insure best insulating qualities for log structure. Logs can be assembled using alignment pins or rods to make sure that the seal gasket and logs are in position before fastening. 

1. A log used for the construction of a log wall, log building or any structure made from logs. Said log having inner and outer sides and relatively flat upper and lower sides where said logs are joined together during said construction. A custom groove cut down the desired length or entire length of said log. Said custom groove is cut within the contacting surface area/s of either or both relatively flat upper and lower sides to receive a flexible seal gasket. Said flexible seal gasket of desired shape and material is inserted into said custom groove to provide one or more sealing surfaces against the adjoining log to prevent the penetration of water, weather, air and or insects for the life of said construction. Said seal gasket and said custom groove are specifically designed to enhance and maintain said flexible seal gaskets performance and life during and after the normal settling, moving, expanding and shrinking experienced with log construction. Once said seal gasket is in place it does not interfere with said log to log contact or the integrity of said log construction.
 2. A log as set forth in claim 1 wherein the relatively flat upper and lower portions of the said log can also have either 1 or more notches, tongue and groove, bead and channel or such or a mixture of.
 3. A log as set forth in claim 1 wherein a custom groove can be cut into the tongue and groove, notches or bead and channel portion of the log or a combination thereof wherein the flexible seal gasket will be inserted.
 4. A seal gasket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seal gasket is made of a low VOC or nontoxic material.
 5. A seal gasket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seal gasket uses a material that will last and maintain flexibility for the life of the log building.
 6. A seal gasket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seal gasket also increases thermal insulation of said log building.
 7. A custom groove as set forth in claim 1 wherein the custom groove is cut as close to the outer side of said log as possible. 